Installing optimus on old m11x?

Is there going to be a way to put the optimus technology on the older versions of the m11x? I assume it is mostly software based, right? O_O

 

I believe it's hardware based.

 

Not a chance. It is definitely hardware based. It activates GPU on demand for performance when needed. Personally I don't mind manually switching. Not a big deal for me. But Optimus is a nice added feature for any future laptop I get...

 

Hmmm, what about the optimus hack on the sony vaio z? Some people have been getting it to work with their old laptops.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/469747-sony-z11-nvidia-optimus.html?highlight=optimus

 

Won't work... Sorry.

 

Edit: Nvm

Anyway, how did it work for the Sony Vaio Z?

Also, seems the only thing missing is the Optimus Copy Engine. Maybe a swap of the graphic card is all thats needed?

 

Who cares about optimus anyway, I like more switching it by myself!.

 

Optimus would be awesome for when I am plugged into a outlet and decide to run a game. I just got back into WoW and half of the time I decide to load it up I forget to switch to the 335m gpu.

I use my M11x everyday for work without access to a free outlet and run off the intergrated Intel gpu. So whenever I get back home to load up a game, I make that mistake (half of the time). It's an annoyance but it's my fault for being forgetful.

 

Optimus is a nice feature for sure. I just don't see how it will work with existing hardware.

 

I never saw the big deal with Optimus. The only thing I need the NVidia GPU for is gaming. Anything else, it's on the integrated chip. Easy enough to switch on my own, and I'd rather do it on my own.

 

I think Optimus should work fine if they release drivers, but the m11x would already have the separate muxers and if you can't get it to work, it's not really needed anyways.

 

Its for us lazys who are lazy to manually switch it or very forgetful

 

In older drivers, there is an option to automatically switch to integrated graphics when you unplug (except when it says, close this program first blah blah).


edit: it was very buggy and it seems in the 188.80 drivers it is no longer there.

 

Can you turn optimus off and switch manually instead?

 

I had a read about Optimus, it seems it's all software and requires windows 7.

http://forums.laptopvideo2go.com/topic/26410-optimus-drivers-on-the-vaio-z/page__pid__128386__st__0

Apparently it works for m11x too.

 

i still dont care about optimus if it's possible, i keen on switching by myself.

 

i agree, plus, i don't want it auto switching on stuff that i don't want it to run the 335m on. i usually don't like those kinds of auto features for computers since they often foul up.

 

Not via hot-key. All controlled via software profiles for each app or game going forward.

 

Has anyone asked a Dell Tech yet if Optimus is software based, and the x11m r1 can run it?

This may answere my question, this is off the Dell website;



Alienware M11x Laptop

Overclockable Intel® CoreTM 2 Duo SU7300 processor

1GB NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 335M graphics card (performance) & integrated Intel® graphics (battery life) — graphics switched manually VGA, display port & HDMI graphics outputs

Starting Price... $799



Alienware M11x Laptop

Overclockable Intel® CoreTM i5 520UM processor

1GB NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 335M graphics card (performance) & integrated Intel® graphics (battery life) — graphics switched automatically with NVIDIA® OptimusTM technology

Starting Price... $949

 

I talked to a Dell tech today, its confirmed, it's hardware driven, sorry for the bad news. I don't think it's that big of a deal.

 

From what I can see though, the only pc's it was confirmed on used intel i series processors?

 

From reading up on Optimus it looks like it's mostly software based, not hardware.

NVIDIA Optimus - Truly Seamless Switchable Graphics and ASUS UL50Vf - AnandTech :: Your Source for Hardware Analysis and News

According to that the requirement is not the cpu, but the nvidia gpu.

So it should work if the nvidia chipset is supported, which the 335M does as seen in the m11x r2 which has the same chip.

 

I'm kind of amazed this is a selling feature at all. fn-F6, you can't get much easier!

 

Easier is, you don't have to do anything -> Optimus.

 

What are you discussing here? Its impossible! Its only available on i processors, should close thread now. Everything is clear.

 

Same here. I don't find it to be a problem unless I forget to switch and have to start the game over again =D

Non-issue.

 

Not sure why this is still a debate

 

"NVIDIA calls the system Optimus, and it’s designed to work with GeForce 200M, 300M, and GeForce M GPUs as well as the as-yet-unannounced NVIDIA ION 2 graphics processor. It supports Intel’s Core 2 Duo, Core i3, i5, and i7 processors and Intel Atom N450 CPUs."

 

So I take it no one has tried these R2 Optimus drivers on the M11xR1. To do so make sure to delete the subsys portion before installing.

Code:

%NVIDIA_DEV.0CAF.01% = Section033, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0CAF[COLOR="Red"]&SUBSYS_04651028 [/COLOR]

becomes

Code:

%NVIDIA_DEV.0CAF.01% = Section033, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0CAF

Make sure to do a full uninstall of the Hybrid Graphics drivers before trying Optimus. Also make sure you install the Intel graphics drivers.

1.) Download M11xR2 Drivers ( Intel| Nvidia)
2.) Uninstall Hybrid Graphics Drivers (This should remove both Intel and Nvidia graphics devices from device manager)
3.) Reboot. Extract the Intel drivers using something like WinRAR or 7Zip. Install the M11xR2 Intel Drivers.
4.) Modify the INF like above and install the Nvidia Drivers.
5.) Reboot and enjoy?

Make sure to check device manager if you run into any problems. The Nvidia driver may need to be signed and installed in test mode after modifying the INF (probably not). Let us know if there is the Nvidia Confidential overlay and any other issues you run into.

Fnord0s photo of M11x(R1) with old Optimus drivers posted for inspiration.

It would be nice if these got rid of that overlay.

 

Nautis

Are you saying it does work ?? Or are you after someone to test these?

What machine are these for?? The R2 M11x ??

 

lol thinking exactly what psikey is thinking. did you try it out? or do you want us to be your lab rats and experiment with us? XD

 

I am saying the old Optimus drivers with a small INF edit worked with the overlay like the above screenshot and possibly some power issues. I am asking for someone to test the R2 Optimus drivers to see if they work any different/better.

Id test it myself but I have an old Vaio Z.

 

Could these damage anything ? I can easily re-install back from an Acronis image of my drive if I hit a problem I suppose.

 

lol i suppose its the trouble of dling it and possibly re-installing for me.

i have a horridly slow internet connection at home. it'd take me close to 8 hours. lol......

but if it does work, maybe i'll take the trouble of dling it.

 

Just download files & only did a drive backup 5 days ago so could give it a go, can't see it damaging anything really ...... Hmmmmmmm

 

Same risk as with any unofficial driver. As you can see you are just changing the ID string basically. As with any in the Nvidia UDA family these are the same as any other driver. If they do no work you should be able to just do an uninstall and reinstall your existing Hybrid Graphics drivers.

Only thing to really watch out for when testing graphics drivers is heat. If you notice things getting extremely hot shut down immediately. This goes for the official drivers too ever since Nvidias bad fan bug.

If you do not feel 100% comfortable please do not try it.

--

Only difficulty with Optimus is that it is hard to tell when the Nvidia part is actually working as there is no indication. Best way to test is to open something like a 3d app and see if it is performing fast like with the nvidia part or slow and jerky like with the intel part.

 

When trying to install the Intel Optimus driver it says "Computer Does Not Meet Minimum Requirements"

Not looking good !!!

Readme file:

Production Version Releases

Microsoft Windows Vista* 64
Microsoft Windows* 7 64

Driver Revision: 15.17.4.64.2119

April 23, 2010

************************************************************
*
* NOTE: This document refers to systems containing the
* following Intel chipsets/processors:
*
*
* Intel(R) Pentium(R) Processor
* Intel(R) Core(TM) i3 Processor
* Intel(R) Core(TM) i5 Processor
* Intel(R) Core(TM) i3 Mobile Processor
* Intel(R) Core(TM) i5 Mobile Processor
* Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 Mobile Processor
* Intel(R) B43 Express Chipset
* Intel(R) G41 Express Chipset
* Intel(R) G43 Express Chipset
* Intel(R) G45 Express Chipset
* Intel(R) Q43 Express Chipset
* Intel(R) Q45 Express Chipset
* Mobile Intel(R) GL40 Express Chipset
* Mobile Intel(R) GM45 Express Chipset
* Mobile Intel(R) GS45 Express Chipset
*
*
*
* Installation Information
*
* This document makes references to products developed by
* Intel. There are some restrictions on how these products
* may be used, and what information may be disclosed to
* others. Please read the Disclaimer section and contact
* your Intel field representative if you would like more
* information.
*
************************************************************
************************************************************
* DISCLAIMER: Intel is making no claims of usability,
* efficacy or warranty. The INTEL SOFTWARE LICENSE
* AGREEMENT contained herein completely defines the license
* and use of this software.
*
* This document contains information on products in the
* design phase of development. The information here is
* subject to change without notice. Do not finalize a
* design with this information.
************************************************************
************************************************************

Important Note:

Your computer is configured to run the WinSAT* test, which determines
whether the computer can support the Windows Aero* desktop theme.
The test will run after this driver is installed and the computer is restarted.
If your computer can support it, the Windows Aero desktop theme will
automatically be enabled.


This test will take approximately 10 seconds.

************************************************************

*Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.

 

They may have something that identifies in the installer. If you have something like 7zip or winrar installed you should be able to right click the installer and extract. Didn't check the Dells Intel package.. checking them now. You can always try to download them directly from Intel here.

 

OK, got the Intel one installed by running setup.exe

Modified the subsys and tried to install but message says "NVidia program could not locate any drivers that are compatible with current hardware" ??

The Intel Control Panel from the first drive shows OK & seems to be controlling the fan.

 

In device manager I have two display adapters showing:

Mobile 4 Series Chipset
Video Controller (VGA Compatible)

 

Err.. hmm. On the VGA Compatible one click the details tab and choose hardware ids, copy that and paste here. Dont see why it isnt working if the subsys was modified. Can always try a manual install on the vga compatible. Update Driver -> Browse my computer -> let me pick -> have disk -> browse and point to where the nvidia driver is.

 

Update

Been working with Nautis help via PM and managed to get both the drivers installed after a bit of trouble. A new Intel control panel now shows & a new NVidia one with shows Optimus Demo, not for distribution in the Rotating NVidia logo.

Using GPU-Z, both graphics cards show. During normal Windows use the 335M shows zero load and if I fire up Peggle (old 2D game) it still shows no load and Peggle plays with Intel GPU at 100FPS. If I fire up MassEffect2 then I initially had a warning (just once) saying hardware might not be correct but would still attempt to play game. When game fires up the is a big Optimas Demo mark on the screen and the game plays as I'd expect and GPU-Z show the 335M under heavy load. The instant I come out of the game the load total drops to zero on the 335M and stays at zero if I fire up Peggle again.

Does this confirm Optimus can work on the M11X (can't be doing with the lgo though).

 

OK, confirmed for certain its working. I use Media Player Classic - HC to watch 1080/720p mkv files using CUDA support in CoreAVC.

When I fired it up it keeps the Intel GPU purely showing the Blue CoreAVC icon indicating its using the software encoder.

If I go into the Nvidia control panel I can select the program .exe file and set preffered GPU to 335M. When I then play the same movie the green CoreAVC icon shows and the movie plays smooth as silk with minimal CPU use and the 335M pulling a load of 8% for a 720p movie.

Pity about the watermark, even shows on a movie when the 335M is enabled, but not with the Intel.


720p movie using Optimus enabling 335M

Mass Effect 2 Automatically using the 335M

Peggle Automatically using the Intel GPU (see no overlay, GPU flat straight after ME2)

 

i try to install the new optimus driver for the m11xr2 on my old m11x, it work but with the the overlay, and it take after 50% of the cpu power

 

This isn't an option to use really as the FPS have dropped noticeably in ME2 & the overlay issue, but it does show Optimus working bringing in the GPU automatically as needed for the 3D game while resorting back to the Intel for 2D games & Windows use. Program profile setting also works as per the MPC-HC tests.

 

Yeah.. It seems Optimus on the M11xR1 works as it has in the past. I had hopes that with the M11xR2 they were just hacking around the multiplexers with the drivers.

 

The problem I see is that the 335M continues to draw power, in turn reducing battery life and not making the optimus hack useful. Is there any verification that the 335M shuts off completely?

 

Agreed. In addition to the ugly overlay.

Not 100% sure that the 335M continues to draw power though. I would love more confirmation one way or the other. I have had people say their battery life was reduced and someone say that a power metering app seems to show the 335M drawing little to no power when not active.

Either way. Unless and until we have a 100% working solution with no overlay and no power issues I don't think this can be considered a working Optimus solution.

 

let try with the nvidia beta driver
see's whether it will work
and if it's discard the overlay issue
great find ....didn't see it's coming...

 

Dell has released the Optimus drivers for the m11x r2.